Woo Hoo - that's my Friend!

I have been doing some blogging of sorts on Facebook.  This month many are writing something they are thankful for each day.  It is a great way to remind me to be thankful and to acknowledge those things in my life that I really enjoy.  Like so many others – I have much to be thankful for.  My friend Stacy said it best on her Facebook post:

Day 10- I am thankful that I have so many things to be thankful for that I cannot decide what to put!  Seriously.  I have so very much to be thankful for.  I am truly blessed.  I suppose I am thankful for blessings!

Love that post – and of course I do love my friend Stacy.

Friends….. I am one of those quote/phrase collectors.  If you follow me on Pinterest – I have a board called “Lots of Words”.  It is the section where I collect funny sayings.   I don’t have very many friend quotes posted right now – I should work on adding those.  A few years ago I read a book that helped one identify a personality type of sorts.  (I love all of that stuff too….this one was called “Strength Finder” – thanks DeAnna for getting that title for me….)  Anyway – my greatest strength is “Woo”.  Here’s an excerpt:

Woo stands for winning others over. You enjoy the challenge of meeting new people and getting them to like you. Strangers are rarely intimidating to you. On the contrary, strangers can be energizing. You are drawn to them. You want to learn their names, ask them questions, and find some area of common interest so that you can strike up a conversation and build rapport. Some people shy away from starting up conversations because they worry about running out of things to say. You don't. Not only are you rarely at a loss for words; you actually enjoy initiating with strangers because you derive satisfaction from breaking the ice and making a connection. Once that connection is made, you are quite happy to wrap it up and move on. There are new people to meet, new rooms to work, new crowds to mingle in. In your world there are no strangers, only friends you haven't met yet -- lots of them.

Today I am thankful for many of my friends – okay ALL of you!  And because I do love to make connections – here are some that keep me going….(I am only mentioning a couple….)

Church friends – CoffeeRoomGirls is just an amazing group.  I came in from church last night and Kerry asked me why I was acting so goofy.  I said that group energizes me!  They do – what an awesome group of women.  I am blessed to be a part of that Wednesday night Bible study. 

Also on that note I think of Luciana from Brasil.  I have known Luciana since I was 17 years old.  We met when I went on a Texas Baptist Mission trip to Brasil.  We found each other on Facebook a couple of years ago. 

School friends – When I taught school there were many that I called my friends – I remember Karen from Gilmer (whom I have lost contact with) – then there’s Susan from Gilmer too – who I have as a Facebook friend and the ones from Graham – like The Codys, Carmichael, Dee, Ken & Sheri, Gaye, Tracey, Becky – oh good heavens I am going to be in trouble for starting that list – but oh so many people that I treasure as friends – even though I do a horrible job of telling them how important they are to me!

Tarleton Cohorts – from the doctoral program.  What a strange collection of 15 we were.  But those 15 became dear people to me – and they still have that place in my heart that will stay forever.  It is so true that without their support I would never have accomplished the all important ~ Cheryl Groves, EdD.

Sports friends – this list could be way long…in no particular order I think of Karen Dies – many connections with Karen but having her come to my home on Saturday mornings during the 2009 football season is just one of my favorites.  The McCoy Family – my boys played for Coach McCoy, I watch their boys play football, and most importantly we worshipped together when they lived in Graham (and Debra is my dearest friend….).  Coaches that my boys have had through the years are still many of my dearest friends.  Then my Roll Tide friend Doug who lives in Montgomery, Alabama and even has a sports radio talk show!  My friends have many layers and many reasons that I call them friends.

One couple that has taught me much about what God has called us to do is Leanne & Chad Rogers.  Their love for my son that they never met was the initial reason they became my friends.  Now after a year – we are friends because they continue to let me pop in and out of their lives and seem to love me just the same.  Chad is the coach at Snyder – and he contacted our football coach after Son two got hurt to check on him.  Because of the way Son two left the field – it was the Snyder crowd that knew more of what happened. They live too far from me but dear friends they are!

Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow.
Don't walk behind me, I may not lead.
Walk beside me and be my friend.
~ Albert Camus ~

I will post pictures of some of my dearest friends in the next few days.

Leanne Rogers & me after the Snyder win....

Coach Rogers during the Snyder game

Always, May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14.